Marine craft



March 22, 1938. c. H. CLARK MARINE CRAFT Filed Feb. 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR.

MARINE CRAFT Filed Feb. 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. Char/e5 fla5/?e// 6/0/76,

Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES tlil'tSED APR 21941 Eiders PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

The invention, in general, relates to manually propelled water crafts which are also adaptable for sailing, as a canoe, and more particularly relates to crafts of the canoe variety commonly termed kayaks.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a kayak capable of quick and ready collapse so that the same may be folded for transportation by road vehicles.

Another object of my invention is to provide a craft of the aforementioned character which is easily, quickly and readily set up for use in the water.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a craft adaptable for folding into a compact unit but which expands when set up to produce a hull of unusually large size for the width of panels employed in its construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marine craft of the foregoing character having stream-line construction thereby aifording a maximum amount of speed and offering minimum resistance to wind and water currents.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a marine craft which can be constructed of relatively light-weight material at inexpensive cost and yet which affords a rugged and stable structure.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a marine craft of the aforementioned character employing panels and embodying novel hinge joints between the deck and bottom panels of the craft.

Other objects of the invention, together with 5 some of the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the embodiment shown, as my invention, as defined in the appended claims, can be embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, this view showing the embodiment in a folded or collapsed condition.

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view taken on the line 5 l-l of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic and geometric sectional end view of one section of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 9.

Figure'9 is a diagrammatic and geometric plan 10 view of one of the sections forming the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic and geometric sectional end view of the two sections illustrated in Figure 11. 15

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic and geometric plan view of the two sections forming the embodiment of my invention which is shown in Figure 1.

In its preferred form, the marine craft of my invention preferably comprises a pair of complementary sections which together, when set up, 0 constitute the hull of the craft including a deck and a bottom; each of said sections consisting of a pair of complementary panels, a first hinge connection joining each pair of panels of each section and partially joining the two sections, a second hinge connection joining the deck and bottom panels of the two sections; all of said connections being formed of a flexible material so that the craft is collapsible and the sections are foldable upon one another, and the second connection being adapted to be stretched and maintained taut while the craft is in the water, together with retractable means for tautening said second connection thereby setting up the craft for use.

In accordance with my invention, I provide four panels I l, l2, l3 and 14 which preferably are fabricated of plywood but which, if desired, can be fabricated of any other suitable light-weight 4O material, such as water-proof pressed paper or sheet spring metal. These materials are all pliable and are adapted to be bowed so as to provide stream-line contours for the craft. The panels H and 12 are joined together to form one 5 section of the craft while panels I3 .and 14, when joined, form the remaining section, the two sections being complementary so that when the two sectons are joined together they constitute the hull of the kayak in which panels H and 13 form 50 the deck and the panels I2 and 14 form the bottom of the craft.

As illustrated in the drawings, panels H to 14 inclusive are alike in configuration and contour, except for cut away portions of the deck panels 55 H and I3 defining the cockpit, thus providing complementary sections for the boat. Preferably, panels I! and [3 are so formed that each is provided with a straight inner edge I6, except for the cockpit formed therefrom, but which are curved when the craft is set up. See, in this connection, Figure l of the drawings. Moreover, the panels I! and !3 are each provided with an outer edge H which is rounded on its outer surface and which is curved at its longitudinal extremities, both when the craft is collapsed and when set up, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Panels [2 and 14, which together form the bottom of the craft, are so formed that each is provided with an inner edge 98 which is preferably straight throughout its entire length when the craft is collapsed, see dotted line showings of Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings, but which becomes curved at its longitudinal extremities when the craft is set up, see full line showings of Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings. Moreover, the panels l2 and 54 are each provided with an outer edge l8 which is rounded on its outer surface and which is curved at its longitudinal extremities both when the craft is collapsed and when set up. The curvature of the longitudinal extremities of the outer edges IQ of panels l2 and M conforms to the curvature of the longitudinal extremities of the outer edges ll of the panels H and I3, all as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

In joining the four panels together to provide the hull of the boat, I preferably utilize strips of water-proof, flexible material and I have found that strips of canvas effectively serve this purpose. Preferably, the strips of canvas are so applied and fastened to the outer surfaces of the panels that hinge connections are provided. To effect this result, and as particularly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, I fasten a strip of canvas 2 l, by means of a suitable waterproof adhesive, to the outer surfaces of the panels at their outer edges l! and 9 respectively. My preferred manner of providing the hinge connection hereinabove mentioned is to bevel or round the outer edges l! and E9 of the panels H to M inclusive in such a way that when the craft is set up for use in the water no portion of the edges IT and I9 is caused to extend beyond a vertical line 22-12 drawn through the point of contact of the inner surfaces of edges l'. and IQ of the panels of each section, or the apex of the angle formed thereby. See, in this connection Figure 4 of the drawings. The canvas strip 2| is relatively narrow in width and is adhesively fastened to said rounded edges of the panels as well as to the adjacent outer surface of each panel, and extends entirely around the craft for the purpose set forth. As illustrated, the canvas strip 2| hingedly connects the panels of each section at their outer rounded edges and also serves to connect the sections at the ends of the panels.

To complete the connection between the two complementary sections of the hull, I provide another strip of flexible, water-proof material, such as the canvas strip 22 and apply the same by means of a water-proof adhesive to the outer surfaces of the deck and bottom panels of the craft. As illustrated in the drawings, the canvas strip 22 extends from one end of the cockpit over the bow, throughout the full length of the bottom of the hull, and up and over the stern of the craft to the other end of the cockpit. If desired, strip 22 can be cut into three portions and applied to the panels by fastening one portion extending from one end of the cockpit to one end of the boat, one portion to the bottom panels and extending over the bottom, and the third portion from the other end of the boat to the other end of the cockpit. As shown in the drawings, strip 22 is for the most part somewhat wider than strip 2| and its lateral extremities are adhesively secured to the outer surfaces of the bottom panels [2 and M at their inner edges l8, leaving a relatively wide, central or slack portion 23 free of the panel surfaces. The lateral extremities of strip 22 are also adhesively secured to the outer surfaces of the deck panels at their inner edges l6, likewise leaving the wide central portion 23 thereof free from the panels. The slack or central portion 23 of the canvas strip 22 is adapted to be stretched taut in setting up the craft and to be maintained in a tautened condition while the craft is in the water. Preferably, the Wide central portion of strip 22 is sewed to the strip 2| at the ends or bow and stern of the craft.

As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, a double keel 24 and accompanying keelsons 26 are provided for the boat. In the present embodiment, keels 24 and keels 26 are fabricated of a relatively hard wood, such as oak, the keels 24 being mounted on the outer or keels 2 t extend along the bottom of the craft for a distance approximately equal to the length of the cockpit or straight portions of the panels 12 and I4, while the keelsons 26 are slightly longer than the keels and preferably are tapered at their longitudinal extremities.

In Figures 6 and '7 of the drawings, I have shown, in enlarged details, the mountings of the keels and keelsons, together with the means forming the joints therebetween and the panels. As illustrated, a canvas strip 27 is provided on each side of the craft between each keelson and the inner surface of the bottom panels [2 and 14 in order to insure a water-tight joint. The strips 21 extend throughout the full length of the boat on the bottom as well as the deck portions of the panels, one lateral extremity of each strip being adhesively secured to the inner surface of the corresponding bottom panel and the other lateral extremity thereof being sewed to the canvas strip 22. and keelsons together, I preferably utilize the means illustrated in detail in Figure '7 of the drawings, which include a channeled metal plate 28 seated on each keelson at both longitudinal extremities thereof. Each channeled plate 28 is pierced at its center by a screw-bolt 29 which also passes through keelson 26, canvas strips 22 and 2'1, a bottom panel, as well as keel 24, the bolt 29 being countersunk in the keel. A nut 3! is screwed down tightly upon bolt 29 against metal plate 28 and a rubber washer 32 is mounted upon the exposed end of the bolt 29. The rubber washer 32 conveniently is held in position by a small metal washer 33 and a nut 54. These means effectively provide water-tight joints between the panels, the keels and the keelsons.

The kayak of my invention is illustrated in its collapsed condition in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings. To set up the craft for use in the water In order to bind the keels requires but the unfolding of the panels and the insertion in the hull of means for lifting and spreading the panels and for holding the flexible, hinge joint 22 in a tautened condition. To effect this result, I provide a pair of retractable Spreaders 31 which are disposable fore and aft of the hull and which divide the hull into compartments, including a cockpit. Top and bottom stops are provided for limiting the movement of the spreaders, and as aids in positioning the Spreaders in the hull. The bottom stops preferably are eight in number and are arranged in pairs in transverse parallel relationship on the keelsons 26, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Preferably, but four top stops are employed and these are mounted on the under surfaces of the deck panels in transverse parallel relationship and adjacent to the cockpit. The positioning of the top and bottom stops for the spreaders is such that the spreaders 31, when in upright, operative positions, are pushed past the vertical and are disposed at an inclination to the vertical. One bottom stop of each pair thereof conveniently can consist of the rubber washer 32 which is mounted on the exposed end of the screw-bolt 29, and the other bottom stop of each pair thereof can consist of a second rubber washer 38 which can be riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the metal plate 28 on the keelsons 28. The top stops for the retractable spreaders 31 conveniently can consist of four rubber Washers 39, similar to the rubber washers 32 and 38, and these are mounted in any suitable manher to the under sides of the deck panels H and l3,-in transverse parallel relationship but not directly above the bottom stops 32 and 33.

The operation of setting up the spreaders $7 to condition the craft for use in the water comprises placing the spreaders one at a time in the hull between the deck and the bottom panels with the lower edge of each spreader inserted between the two stops of each pair of bottom stops 32 and 38, and then of raising the spreaders with their upper edges and sides bearing against the inner surfaces of the panels simultaneously to raise and spread the same and at the same time to tauten the slack, central portion 23 of the canvas strip 22. Each spreader 31 is pushed past the vertical until it reaches and rests against a pair of transversely arranged top stops 39, and in this operative position is inclined from the Vertical. It should be observed that the spreaders 31 likewise serve as a back rest for the passengers of the kayak. Each of the spreaders 31 carries a hinge member 4| which is recessed for receiving the edges of the deck panels to thereby center the spreaders in their upright, inclined positions and preventing thereby any lateral displacement of the deck panels H and I 3 relative to the spreaders while the craft is in the water. To collapse the craft, it is only necessary to pull the spreaders from their upright positions and the panels are then foldable upon one another. To set up the craft, or to collapse and fold the panels together requires less than a minute and can readily be accomplished by anyone, even though unskilled or unfamiliar with marine craft.

With specific reference to Figures 8 and 11 inclusive of the drawings, it will be observed that prior to setting up the craft of my invention and when the same is collapsed and laid out on a flat surface without folding the panels upon one another, the inner contacting surfaces of the four panels are coplanar in a longitudinal, horizontal plane y-y. Moreover, the inner edges of the panels of each boat section, except for the portions of the deck panels defining the cockpit, are coplanar in a longitudinal, vertical plane .r-;v. Furthermore, the inner edges of the panels of both boat sections, except for the portions of the deck panels defining the cockpit, are contiguous, while the outer edges of the panels of each boat section are contiguous throughout their entire length. See, in this connection, the dotted line showings of Figures 9 and 11 of the drawings. However, when the craft is set up by the positioning of the spreaders 31, it will be observed that the portions of the inner edges of the panels of each section, intermediate the ends thereof, spring away from the plane yy and, hence, are no longer contiguous. On the other hand, the entire length of the outer edges of the panels of each boat section remain contiguous. Furthermore, all of the edges of the panels, intermediate the ends thereof, spring away from the plane a:-n:. However, inasmuch as the inner edges of all of the panels, when the craft is set up, spring apart in radial directions from a longitudinal medial line through the ends of the panels, both away from the plane arx and the plane yy, the distance moved by the inner edges is greater than the distance moved by the outer edges from the plane .r-a:. See, in this connection, the geometric showings of Figures 8 and 10 of the drawings, as well as Figures 9 and 11. In Figures 8 and 10, it is shown that assuming a panel width equal to one and an angle of spread, abc, of the panels from the plane yy of 30, the movement of the outer edges of the panels, which is proportional to the versine of the angle abc, is therefore .14 from the plane .r:z:. Correspondingly the movement of the inner edges of the panels, which is proportional to the sum of the versine (.14) of the angle (the and the exsecant (.15) of said angle, is therefore .29 from the plane x:c. A hull, so formed, is unusually large for the width of panel employed and its structure produces a craft which possesses a maximum amount of bouyancy and stability for its weight, size and compactness, when folded.

In the embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, the flexible joints 2! and 22 between the panels of the hull are so regulated and applied that any tendency towards rupture of the joints when setting up the craft or when in use in the water is reduced to a minimum. Canvas strip 22 is cut to a predetermined width so that the maximum angle of spread between the deck and bottom panel of each section of the craft is sub stantially less than Furthermore, canvas strip 2! is cut to a relatively narrow width. Consequently, upon setting up the craft and when the craft is in the water, any external pressure applied against the panels is transmitted directly from one panel to the other of each section because their outer contiguous edges engage one another in their spread apart position. In the present embodiment, I have so regulated the dimensions of canvas strip 22 that the angle of spread between the deck and bottom panel of each section is approximately 60, more or less. See, in this connection, Figures 8 and 10 of the drawings. In setting up the craft with this angle of spread so controlled and limited, no portion of the panels l I and E2 on the one hand, or of panels Iii and M, on the other, or the edges thereof, will protrude or extend beyond a line 11-41 which is drawn as hereinabove referred to, or, in other words, beyond the apex of the angle formed by the inner surfaces of the panels when the craft all) is set up. See, especially, Figure 4 of the draw ings. Hence, there is no tendency of the canvas strip 2! to pull away from the rounded edges of the panels due to any likelihood of the panels to spread from a horizontal plane through the center of the craft, and consequently expose the edges of the panels to moisture.

For the convenience of passengers, I have provided a retractable floorboard 42 which may conveniently be disposed in the cockpit of the craft after the spreaders 31 are in position. In order to prevent water from spraying into the cockpit, I detachably mount a pair of spray deflectors 44 fore and aft of the craft just ahead and just behind the cockpit. The deflectors preferably are supported at an inclination of approximately 6 to the vertical by means of channeled strips is fastened to the deck panels, and are held in position by means of extensions of the canvas strip 22 which can be fastened to studs 41 on the deflectors. In order effectively to trap any water that rushes over the bow and stern and strikes the deflectors, I have provided novel traps or hoods on the outer or leading surfaces of the defiectors. These hoods preferably comprise a pair of wooden strips 48 and 49 which extend the full width of the deflector and which have beveled contiguous edges. The strips 48 and 49 are flexibly hinged together by means of a sheet of cloth, or other suitable material, to which the strips are adhesively fastened. The top strip 48 is fastened by means of screws to the deflector leaving the bottom strip 49 free to swing away from the deflector to an extent limited by its engagement with the lower beveled edge of the top strip 48. The swing of the lower strip 49 of the hood is not greater than approximately 90. The lower edge of the lower strip 49 is slightly beveled so that when water rushes upward from the deck, the strip :19 is readily forced away from the deflector and the water is trapped between the lower strip 59 and upper strip 48.

In order to prevent relative lateral movement of the connected panels of each section upon grasping the panels to collapse the boat, thereby creating a tendency of the panels to pull away from the canvas strip 2|, a plurality of relatively small canvas squares or strips 5| may be applied at longitudinally spaced intervals to the inner surfaces of the panels II to M inclusive at their outer edges. Preferably, in applying the strips 5 i the extremities of the strips are glued or otherwise adhesively fastened to the inner surfaces of the panels and the central portions of the strips 5% are sewed to the transverse central portion of strip 2 I.

Whfie I have described and illustrated herein a collapsible type of kayak incorporating hinged, flexible joints between the several panels forming the hull of the craft, a non-collapsible kayak havsimilar features and characteristics as the kayak herein shown and described can be constructed of plywood panels, or of papier mach, or bisquit, with rigid panels connecting the deck and bottom panels and either with or without the use of ribs.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 755,760, filed on December 3, 1934 and entitled Marine crafts.

I claim:

1. A collapsible marine craft comprising a pair of sections hingedly connected together and forming the hull of the craft; each of said sections comprising a pair of pliable panels adapted to be bowed intermediate their ends both laterally and longitudinally, two of said panels constituting the deck panels and the remaining two the bottom panels of the craft; said deck panels being cut away to define the cockpit, outer lateral edges and inner lateral edges on said panels, a first continuous flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of the panels of each of said sections and hingedly joining a deck and bottom panel of each section at their adjacent outer lateral edges; said first strip extending entirely around the hull and joining the panels of the two sections at the ends thereof, a second continuous flexible strip extending from one end of the cockpit over the ends of the panels and along the bottom of the craft to the other end of the cockpit, said second strip being adapt-ed to be tautened and remain taut when the craft is set up for use in. the water, and second second strip being fastened to the outer surfaces of the deck and bottom panels and hingedly joining said deck and bottom panels of the two sections at their inner lateral edges, and means for bowing said panels both laterally and longitudinally and also for tautening said second strip to set up the craft for use in the water.

2. A marine craft comprising a collapsible hull; said hull comprising a pair of symmetrical sections each of which consists of a pliable deck panel and a pliable bottom panel, a lateral inner edge on each of said deck and said bottom panels, retractable means disposable in said hull for set ting up the craft for use in the water and for simultaneously bracing said panels transversely and vertically, and a single flexible joint connecting the inner edges of said panels longitudinally and on a medial line of the craft; said joint comprising a strip of water-impervious fabric secured to the outer surfaces of said panels adjacent said inner edges, said fabric being tautened and said inner edges being spread apart when the craft is set up for use in the water and said fabric being slackened and said inner edges being brought adjacent to one another when the hull is collapsed.

3. A marine craft comprising a collapsible hull; said hull comprising a pair of symmetrical sections each of which consists of a deck panel and a bottom panel; said deck panels each having an inner edge and a rounded, outer edge and said bottom panels each having an inner edge and a rounded outer edge, a first keel fitted to the outer surface of one of said bottom panels adjacent its inner edge, a second keel fitted to the outer surface of the other of said bottom panels adjacent its inner edge, a first strip of flexible, waterimpervious fabric spanning said heels and adhesively secured to the outer surfaces of said bottom panels to provide a water-tight joint between said panels; said first strip extending longitudinally of said hull throughout the lengths of said bottom panels, over the ends thereof and over portions of the lengths of the deck panels and adhesively secured to the outer surfaces of said deck panels adjacent their inner edges, a second strip or" flexible, water-impervious fabric adhesively secured to the outer surfaces of the deck and bottom panels of each section adjacent the outer, rounded edges thereof to provide a water-tight joint therebetween; said second strip extending around the hull over each end of craft, and retractable means disposable in said hull for simultaneously bracing the hull transversely and vertically and also for tautening said first strip; said means serving to set up the craft for use in the water and when retracted permitting the collapse of the craft.

4. A collapsible marine craft of the character described comprising a pair of collapsible sections flexibly joined together to form a hull; each of said sections being composed of a pair of pliable panels, lateral outer edges on said panels, a hinge consisting of a single flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of the panels and connecting the adjacent lateral outer edges of each pair of panels, lateral inner edges on said panels, retractable spreaders adapted to be positioned adjacent the ends of the hull to set up the craft for use in the water, whereby said inner lateral edges of said panels are spread away from each other, a single joint consisting of a relatively Wide flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of said panels at said lateral inner edges and connecting the two sections of the hull along said lateral inner edges of said panels on a vertical longitudinal medial line of the craft.

5. A folding marine craft having a maximum amount of bulk, buoyancy and stability when set up and in use in the water for its size, Weight and compactness, said craft comprising a hull consisting of a pair of collapsible sections each of which consists of a pair of pliable panels, inner and outer lateral edges on said panels, a first flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of the panels of each section at their adjacent outer lateral edges for flexibly joining the panels of the craft on a gunwale line of the hull, a second flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of the panels at their inner lateral edges for flexibly joining the panels of the craft on a longitudinal medial line of the hull, and means for simultaneously moving said inner edges apart and tautening said second strip to set up the craft for use in the water.

6. In a folding marine craft having a pair of collapsible sections forming the hull of the craft and each consisting of a pair of pliable panels, inner lateral edges on said panels, a flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of said panels at their inner edges for joining the sections of the craft on a longitudinal medial line of the hull, and means disposable in said hull for simultaneously moving said inner edges of said panels radially apart and tautening said strip to set up the craft for use in the water.

7. A collapsible marine craft of the character described comprising a pair of foldable sections flexibly connected together and forming the hull of the craft; each of said sections consisting of a pliable deck panel and a pliable bottom panel, an inner lateral edge and an outer lateral edge on each of said panels, a first flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of the deck and bottom panels of each section at their adjacent outer lateral edges and hingedly joining the deck and bottom panels along the gunwale line of the hull, a second flexible strip fastened to the outer surfaces of the deck and bottom panels at their inner lateral edges and hingedly joining the panels on a longitudinal medial line of the hull, and retractable means in the hull for spreading the inner edges of the four panels radially away from a longitudinal medial line through the hull and thereby setting up the craft for use in the water; said retractable means serving to tauten said second strip and to maintain said second strip in a tautened condition while the craft is in-the water.

8. A folding marine craft comprising a pair of sections flexibly hinged together to form the hull of the craft; each of said sections consisting of a pair of pliable panels, inner lateral edges on said panels, a flexible strip fastened to the outer sur faces of said panels at their inner edges for joining the sections of the craft on a longitudinal medial line of the hull; said strip being adapted to be tautened and maintained taut while the craft is in use in the water, and retractable means in the hull for tautening said strip and for maintaining said strip in a tautened condition while the craft is in the water.

9. A folding marine craft comprising a hull having a pair of collapsible sections each of which comprises a pair of panels, lateral inner edges on said panels, a flexible strip fastened to said panels at their inner edges for joining the sections of the craft on a longitudinal medial line of the hull; said strip being adapted to be tautened and maintained taut While the craft is in the water, and means disposable in the hull for taut ening said strip and for maintaining said strip in a tautened condition while the craft is in the water.

10. A folding marine craft comprising a hull having a pair of collapsible sections each of which comprises a pair of panels, lateral outer rounded edges on said panels, inner lateral edges on said panels flexibly joined together, means on the outer, rounded edges for hingedly joining adjacent outer edges of said panels together, and means disposable in said hull for moving said panels radially apart for setting up the craft for use in the Water.

CHARLES HASKELL CLARK. 

